Shaping the Future of Law: Highlights from Our Summer Law Intern Experience
SWMW Law recently ended another year of its robust Summer Law Intern Program, which gave area law students the experience, skills, and mentorship they need to flourish in the legal field and beyond.
The eight-week, paid internship included a comprehensive and formalized curriculum within three areas of the firm’s asbestos practice: Litigation Case Development; Motion Practice & Discovery & Trial; and Asbestos Trust Claims. During each rotation, interns worked closely with senior partners, associates, and paralegals on current cases and participated in court proceedings, depositions, interviews with clients, legal research, and much more.
New this year, the interns also spent some time shadowing Partner Pat O’Brien and gaining valuable insight from his work and expertise with the Federal Employers’ Liability Act, which protects workers in the railroad industry.
Not only is the firm’s Summer Law Intern Program a valuable recruiting tool, it also plays a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of attorneys.
“We view our interns not as temporary additions, but as future colleagues and changemakers,” said Human Resources Manager Billie Gray, who coordinates the program. “That’s why our firm doesn’t just welcome interns – we commit to their development. We know that the lessons learned today will guide how they serve their future clients and communities tomorrow. This program is about more than just gaining experience, it’s about mentorship, real-world application, and helping students imagine their place in the field of law. We make it a point to ensure they’re exposed to various areas of practice so they can discover where their passions and skills align. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness their growth over the summer.”
For Member Lauren Williams, who helps spearhead the firm’s intern recruitment, the program also gives students a comprehensive look at what it really means to be an attorney and takes their legal education from the textbook to the real world.
“It’s incredibly important for law students to witness the transition from theory to practice – to actually see how what they’re studying in textbooks plays out in the real world,” she said. “Our internship program allows them to observe and engage with the full lifecycle of a case – from intake and investigation to trial preparation and resolution. They begin to understand how each legal document, meeting, and motion plays a role in a much bigger picture, and they get to see firsthand how collaboration between departments moves a case forward. It’s an immersive experience that helps students develop practical skills and legal intuition that simply can’t be taught in a classroom.”
In addition to a comprehensive curriculum, interns were also offered several opportunities to develop camaraderie with firm attorneys and staff. This year’s program kicked off with a firmwide breakfast to welcome the interns, with happy hours, lunches, and after-work outings throughout their internship to ensure they felt part of the team.
This year, the firm welcomed law students Jacob Benshoff, Jordyn Grimes, and Sydney Smith as its 2025 Summer Law Intern Program class. We’re proud to introduce them and share their experience in the program through their own words below.
Jacob Benshoff
- Tell us a little about yourself.
I am 24-years-old and was born and raised in St. Louis. I went to undergrad at Mizzou in Columbia, MO where I got degrees in Political Science and Sociology. I am now a rising third year law student at Saint Louis University School of Law. I am excited for my last year of law school, and I am especially excited to be done. After I graduate, I hope to become a plaintiff’s attorney working in, and representing people from, Missouri. Outside of work and school I like to go to the gym, watch movies, and spend time with my family and girlfriend. - What made you decide you wanted to go to law school?
If I am one thing, I am a man for the little guy. I decided I wanted to go to law school because I wanted to stick up for people who were wronged and could not stand up for themselves. I wanted to become someone who could fight back against the people and institutions that could care less about the little guy, and I knew that becoming a lawyer was the way to do that. - What made you choose SWMW Law for your internship?
I think my favorite thing about SWMW Law and why I chose it was the firm’s slogan: “Because People Matter.” It roped me right in. People do matter, and I want to be a lawyer whose job it is to make others realize that they do, too. - What has been the best part of your experience as an SWMW Law intern?
I think the best part of this summer was getting to experience new practice areas and forming stronger relationships with the firm’s attorneys. This summer, everyone was eager to give me advice and mentorship, which I really appreciated. - Has your time with SWMW Law influenced your career path?
It absolutely has. After working here for two summers, I can say with confidence that I want to be a plaintiff’s attorney. Working here has really made it clear to me what I want to do with my career and what I am most interested in.
Jordyn Grimes
- Tell us a little about yourself.
I am 23-years-old and from O’Fallon, MO. I enjoy going to church and working with the kids in the church. In my free time, I love to spend time with my family and boyfriend, Raynard; watch TV shows and movies; go bowling; and play pickleball. I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Fort Zumwalt North High School in 2020. I was the captain of the girls’ basketball team at Fort Zumwalt North and made First Team All-District and First Team All-Conference. I then went to Webster University on a full-ride scholarship where I played basketball. I was captain of the women’s basketball team, and my team made three appearances in the NCAA tournament. I graduated a semester early with a major in Journalism and a minor in Legal Studies with Summa Cum Laude honors. I am currently a rising 2L at Saint Louis University School of Law with a full-ride scholarship. I am also a Mound City Bar Foundation Emerging Scholar. I aspire to finish law school on the Dean’s List and in the Top 25% of my class. - What made you decide you wanted to go to law school?
I majored in journalism in college because I wanted to create a platform where I could give the voiceless a voice. I was a social justice beat reporter, and I aimed to share people’s stories with the world to make a difference. I took a class called Wrongful Convictions simply to meet elective requirements for graduation. During that class, I realized how much our criminal justice system needs to be reformed, and I wanted to be the one to make those changes happen. I continued taking law classes and realized how much journalism and law intertwine. Journalism allowed me to build a strong foundation with reading, writing, researching, investigating, and interviewing people, which are all important skills for lawyers. I realized that I could continue my desire to help people as an attorney. I could do hands-on work with clients that will make a difference in their lives and start to make a change in our legal system. - What made you choose SWMW Law for your internship?
I chose SWMW Law because of my desire to help people. SWMW Law’s motto really drew me in: “Because People Matter.” I have always wanted to help people and prove to them that they matter and that their story matters. I love how devoted SWMW Law is to people. Clients are valued as people rather than as a mere client that can bring in money. I also was interested in asbestos work because my dad is a journeyman pipefitter, and I was interested in learning about the realm of asbestos and how it affects people. - What has been the best part of your experience as an SWMW Law intern?
The best part of my experience is the hands-on work I have been able to do. The attorneys at SWMW Law truly wanted to help me, and they wanted me to benefit from this internship in a way that will help me in my future as an attorney. I believe I have grown throughout my time here because I have been given work that I would not be able to learn in the classroom. I am also very grateful for the connections and friendships I have made here. Everyone at SWMW Law was so kind and treated me like a person rather than just an intern. They were interested in getting to know me and helping to guide me down the path of becoming an attorney. I also am very grateful for the intern program designed for me to rely on the other interns here. They have helped me with my assignments and guided me in decisions about law school. I have built a great relationship with the other interns, so I am very grateful that SWMW Law created this program. - Has your time with SWMW Law influenced your career path?
My time at SWMW Law has definitely encouraged me to keep my initial goal of wanting to help people. The attorneys have pushed me to find my passion and follow it, rather than chasing money. They have encouraged me to immerse myself in different areas of law because without passion, there will be no success.
Sydney Smith
- Tell us a little about yourself.
I am 22-years-old and from St. Louis. I’m currently attending Saint Louis University School of Law and will be a 2L student there. I attended Illinois State University where I played Division 1 soccer and majored in both Political Science and Legal Studies. My mom is a special education preschool teacher and my dad does orthotics and prosthetics. I have an older sister in medical school and a little brother that is about to be a freshman at Saint Louis University. I hope to one day practice law in St. Louis and enjoy working out and trying new crafts. - What made you decide you wanted to go to law school?
Growing up, I always wanted to be a news anchor. A family friend/news anchor in New York City told me that many of the news anchors that are successful went to law school. I am glad I was introduced to the idea of law school in this way, because it heavily influenced my career trajectory. I no longer want to be a news anchor – I want to be an attorney. - What made you choose SWMW Law for your internship?
I have had previous internships in other legal fields and I wanted to learn something new. I enjoyed how kind and welcoming everyone was during the interview process, too. I also have a friend who is a paralegal here. - What has been the best part of your experience as an SWMW Law intern?
One of the best parts of my internship was seeing the behind-the-scenes work that goes into this complex legal field. Many people my age do not know much about asbestos exposure in general. I really enjoyed taking a deeper dive into the field and now having a better understanding of this legal field and the future of asbestos work. I also have loved how willing the staff of the firm is to interact with us as interns. We have gotten to do many fun events and go to weekly lunches with the attorneys. - Has your time with SWMW Law influenced your career path?
My time here has definitely helped to confirm that I would like to go into an area of law that allows me to interact with clients often and problem-solve every day.